Fellow Soldier’s eulogy for
SGT Ryan J. Baum
Distinguished guests, fellow Paratroopers, friends and family,
What to say about the man that kept you alive and made it his mission to do just that. SGT Ryan John Baum was that guy, the guy that I spent the most time with, and the guy that was always my second right hand, located on my left side. Those of you that have ever been a Platoon Sergeant and or First Sergeant, knows that your medic is the person that you spend the most time with. I cannot tell you how many hours that Doc Baum and I have spent in trucks, hide sights, on picket lines, and setting in the over watches with our scopes and rifles ready, watching the platoons work and daring anyone to mess with our boys. There is nothing that he didn’t know about me, and I can guess that there is not much that I do not know about him. Doc was the ultimate paratrooper and medic; he was also a damn good spotter, security man, trigger man, and a great friend. Every time I sat in the hide sight, there was Doc on my left side making sure no one messed with me, any time my Truck rolled out, Doc was in the TC seat making sure the driver was on track, and any time I was walking thru the battle field, there was Doc, on my left side. I always knew that I could look to my left and there would be Doc making sure that I came back from the mission in one piece and alive. During the planning process for missions, the question of where is First Sergeant going to be located was never asked, it was always, “Where is First Sergeant and Doc going to be?” Doc watched damn near every bullet, that I fired in anger impact. And if it didn’t impact where we wanted with the desired result, he always gave an adjustment and a smart comment about my shooting ability.
On the fateful day of 18 May, Doc died doing what Doc did, in making sure that I came back from that mission. I can vouch that the reason that I am here today is a direct result of Doc keeping me alive, and though I wish he hadn‘t, he sacrificed everything doing that. In that, I will always be grateful and Doc will always be part of my life. The other medics that were on the scene did everything they could, to keep him with us. Everything that Doc had taught them and drilled in to them was put to use. But no matter how you look at it, it hurts the heart when you look at your Ranger buddy lying in front of you.
I cannot tell you for sure what Mr. and Mrs. Baum is feeling right now, but I can only guess as Doc was like a son to me also. I can tell you this, Mr. and Mrs. Buam, you guys cracked the code on raising a son and making him a great man that loved his family and talked about them all the time. Though he talked about his family, it was his wife and soon to be Rangeret that he held dearest to his heart.
To Amber, I wish so much that things could have happened some other way and that I could go back in time and change everything. There is not a night that goes by that I don’t think and wonder, what was the reason for Doc to go that day. But I can assure you that Ryan loved you more than anything else in this world.
To Leia, if you get to see this when you are older, your father was the best person that I have ever had the privilege to meet and know, and he is definitely a hero. He and I talked about you all the time, even though all we had seen of you was a sonogram. He asked a lot of questions about raising girls as I have two. Your Daddy did more than most anyone could ever do in his lifetime and wanted nothing but the best for you. As you grow up, you just remember that your Daddy is watching everything that you do, and is right there in your heart.
Last, if you are watching this ceremony, and I bet you are, thanks Doc, and I wish there was some way that I could tell you how grateful I am and how much you are missed, not only by me, but by everyone that knew you. The hardest last roll call that I have ever had to make was calling your name with no answer. Every time that I hear your name, I still look to my left where you were always there. Take care my brother, and keep AJ-ing for the big Jump Master in the sky, till I link back up with you.
1SG Thomas E. Campbell
KUSA - It is not the way that any of the students or faculty at Laredo Middle School in Aurora thought they would learn about war.
The war in Iraq had now come to their door. The students have responded in a very special way.
On Tuesday night the faculty took on the students in a basketball game. The event was "Hoops for Troops." It was their way to support someone who is important to the school and to honor her son.
Dana Baum is a secretary in the Dean's office. Her son, Sgt. Ryan Baum, was killed by a sniper in Iraq on May 18th.
The game was the first time she'd been back to the school since his death.
"It feels good to be back," said Baum. "The kids bring me a lot of joy. I appreciate the thoughts and the prayers so much."
Masiya Jones is a 7th grader at Laredo. She says Sgt. Baum's death has changed the way the students look at the war.
"When you know somebody and someone in their family dies you really feel bad for them but before that you don't really even care," said Jones. "I think all the students are more respectful of some things now."
Jessica Price-Turner is a Dean at Laredo.
"For our kids, especially at the middle school level, it's hard for them to see beyond themselves," said Price Turner. "To experience this tragedy has really hit home and made it personal."
The students made Mrs. Baum a stack of cards. They wrote letters to Sgt. Baum's wife, Amber. They also filled bins full of personal items to send to soldiers stills serving in Iraq. It all means so much to Dana Baum and her family.
"What is so important is the message that the students are sending," said Baum. "That message is that there are people who care and there are people who are thinking about the ones making the sacrifices."
The morning before the basketball game Sgt. Ryan Baum's first child was born. He was supposed to be at his daughter's birth. Baum was killed one day before he was scheduled to go on leave. Leia Ryan Baum weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces.
She was born in Gettysburg, Penn., where she's staying with her parents. Her grandma says she is perfect.
"There are glimmers of joy today but a lot of sadness too," said Baum. "I was just so sad that Ryan wasn't here for Leia and for Amber, but it was also joyful to have the baby; it's just a rollercoaster. I am living minute to minute right now."
The final score of the game was 55 to 46. The teachers won.
Everyone at the game agreed that didn't matter. They say through a friend's loss they are learning more about what really matters most.
